OC nursing assistant arrested for stealing cards from elderly

An Eyewitness News exclusive: A nursing assistant has been arrested, charged with stealing and using the credit cards of nursing home patients, among them a 98-year-old man. Police are seeking more victims.

According to the Santa Ana Police Department, Jaime Corpus was arrested Thursday by Santa Ana and Orange County Sheriff's detectives and charged with burglary, identity theft, and elder financial abuse. The investigation will continue looking to locate any additional victims.

Investigators allege Corpus, 44, admitted to taking money from three elderly victims who he cared for at Villa Valencia, a senior-living community, over the past few months.

He was arrested right after he was terminated from his employment at Villa Valencia, according to police, where he worked since 2009. Before that he was a private nursing assistant.

Police allege Corpus was captured on surveillance video using credit cards from elderly victims at a Target store in Santa Ana. He also allegedly used the cards at an ATM and other stores.

"To victimize a 98-year-old man that, you know, is trusting you to take care of him? You know, obviously he has some rapport with the patients that he has access to their personal property," said Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna. "So I would assume he is good at what he does."

Corpus says he did not take money from the 98-year -old.

Sunrise Senior Living, the company that manages Villa Valencia, released a statement Friday: "Our number one concern, above all else, is the safety and comfort of our residents. We are cooperating fully with the police as well as completing a thorough internal investigation into this matter. We take our commitment to our residents and families seriously, and do not tolerate inappropriate activity in our community. As this matter is under investigation, we cannot discuss it in any more detail at this time."

If you have any information related to the case, call the Santa Ana Police Department at (714) 245-8400.